Lombardi’s Way - A column from the 24×7 founder that focuses on the Ravens, the NFL, Baltimore, the world of sports or life’s inspirations.

Word on The Street - In the spirit of the CBS Sports Minute with Boomer Esiason, RSR brings you Word on The Street, a 90 second (or less) podcast on topics exclusively relating to the Baltimore Ravens.

Ravens Links - We’ll give you the best stories about the Ravens from around the web three times per week.

Fanimal Crackers - If you are an animal about the Baltimore Ravens, then you are a Fanimal! Follow the Russell Street Report blog Fanimal Crackers!

The Edgar Awards - The Edgar Awards will range from the Maryland county that is home to the best Ravens fans to the best Ravens podcast; from the best collection of displaced fans to the best local craft brews that should be part of your next tailgating party.

The Road to RSR - Our writers explains their journeys as fans and how they came to write for our little corner of sports media.

It seems like every year around this time, fans, bloggers and columnists talk the Ravens in a way that describes them as “strange.”

That’s because every year, it seems as if the same problems arise. Is this team capable of changing? I think they are. But nobody really knows. Aside from the Ravens, every other team that contends frequently seems to have some ease and rest on their side at some point.

Take the Texans, for example. They made the playoffs last year, and now this year they started 10-1 and are on the verge of locking up the #1 seed. Baltimore, on the other hand, always seems to make things harder on themselves. The Ravens never have it easy.

Sure, they’re about to make the playoffs for the fifth year in a row, but they’ve only earned a first-round bye in one of the last four years. They’ve only had one home playoff game total in those four years.

With a chance to solidify their chances at a division crown and a #2 overall seed against a third-string quarterback, at home, they failed.

And now, going forward, they have made things quite difficult for themselves.

The top seed is pretty much out of the question. They’ll be in a dogfight for the second seed. And now even the division seems to hang in the balance.

Will they ever have it easy?

I guess the most annoying thing about the Ravens would be the offense. Every offseason now, they seem to talk about the new look offense and they will score a lot of points and every year they seem to do the same crap.

Ravens fans don’t want to be fooled anymore. We just want results. Nobody wants to hear about what you are going to do and all that comes with it, all we want is a smart plan and a creative playbook that makes the offense stay consistent for a long time. I guess that is too much to ask in Baltimore. It seems like every other team in the NFL, even the below average ones, have an offense that can be creative and create space for themselves.

You don’t need elite players on every phase of the offense to look good. Even the Patriots for years would have average players who got open on a consistent basis in their offense. What is wrong with Baltimore? Are the players on offense not speaking up as much as they should?

Is Cam Cameron not willing to adjust more and add creative plays to his package? What’s the deal?

For years, this team goes up against the best defense in the NFL in practice. Ray Lewis is one of the smartest players in the history of the game. Can the offensive players not go to him? I mean the defensive players know what the offense can and can’t do. One would think going up against the best defense in the NFL in practice helps. It doesn’t seem like it does. That also brings a new question as to how valuable practice is in the NFL.

If this offense can’t evolve even after going up against an elite defense in practice for years, is there any hope?

One thing seems certain – the Ravens will continue to take the tough road.

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About Wola Odeniran

Born in Silver Spring, Wola Odeniran remains a Maryland resident. He is currently a student at UMUC with a major in graphics communication, the ultimate goal being a career in journalism. Wola is a lifelong Ravens, Orioles and Terps fan…all the way! More from Wola Odeniran

Lombardi’s Way - A column from the 24×7 founder that focuses on the Ravens, the NFL, Baltimore, the world of sports or life’s inspirations.

Word on The Street - In the spirit of the CBS Sports Minute with Boomer Esiason, RSR brings you Word on The Street, a 90 second (or less) podcast on topics exclusively relating to the Baltimore Ravens.

Ravens Links - We’ll give you the best stories about the Ravens from around the web three times per week.

Fanimal Crackers - If you are an animal about the Baltimore Ravens, then you are a Fanimal! Follow the Russell Street Report blog Fanimal Crackers!

The Edgar Awards - The Edgar Awards will range from the Maryland county that is home to the best Ravens fans to the best Ravens podcast; from the best collection of displaced fans to the best local craft brews that should be part of your next tailgating party.

The Road to RSR - Our writers explains their journeys as fans and how they came to write for our little corner of sports media.